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The attempted assassination of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords prompted lots of partisan finger-pointing, mostly from liberals who tried to blame conservatives in general and the tea party in particular for providing a political rationale for the shooter, and for encouraging his actions with their over-the-top rhetoric.

As the story emerged, however, it became apparent that the assailant — Jared Lee Loughner — is that most-American of creatures: The Nut With a Gun. His Internet postings revealed an increasingly unhinged young man whose worldview was a dystopian stew of conspiracy theories, left- and right-wing beliefs and personal grudges.

Of the six dead, 9-year-old Christina-Taylor Green’s stuck me as the most tragic out of a day defined by tragedy. She was bright, involved and reportedly very interested in politics and public service (it’s worth mentioning she was also the granddaughter of former Phillies manager Dallas Green). One wonders what future good our country was denied by her murder.

Given the history of our region’s love for and expectation of state and federal pork dollars, this year’s election results have come as something of a shock. In their tea-partying, anti-Obama anger, voters booted long-termers like Paul Kanjorski and Arlen Specter, and installed rank newcomers like Lou Barletta, Pat Toomey, Tom Marino and others.

10th District Congressional GOP nominee Tom Marino’s only prayer of unseating Rep. Chris Carney next month is for voter disdain to be stronger for Nancy Pelosi than for Marino’s own murky ethical behavior. He did himself few favors with a stonewalling performance in front of The Times-Tribune’s editorial board this week.

The effect of Citizens United — the Supreme Court’s decision earlier this year lifting any and all barriers on corporate and special-interest funding for political advertising — has become readily apparent. Television programming is chockablock with attack ads funded by unknown parties, full of misleading “facts” and outright lies. Determining who exactly paid for a particular ad is nearly impossible, as the big-money contributors are allowed to hide behind non-profit shell associations with innocuous or patriotic-sounding names.